Do Not Dismiss Achievements Of Charter Schools

July 9, 2009|By Adria Karle

As an educational researcher with a doctorate and almost 35 years as a K-12 classroom teacher in private, public and charter schools, a university professor in teaching and learning, as well as a former student-teacher supervisor, I must take exception to the writer of the June 25 letter, as it misses the point regarding the performance of charter schools.

He chooses to unilaterally dismiss the achievement of all charter schools as if all charter schools are one and the same. As in the public schools, achievement varies. Given his "research," should we, therefore, point to the F or D schools in Florida as proof that public schools do not improve achievement and, in fact, harm students educationally? There is a place in Florida for the choice that charter schools offer.

Parents have the option to examine their locally assigned school as well as the charter school option available to them and choose to place their child in a charter school if they believe it would be better for their child. The possibility of an option is not a threat for the local public school if the public school is doing the job; however, often the public school is not doing the job, and the cost of private school is beyond the resources of most parents.

Additionally, the state is far more diligent about closing charter schools that perform poorly than they are about closing public schools that perform equally poorly. The reality can be then that a child is more likely to attend a local public school with poor achievement than a charter school with poor achievement.

Quality education is a vital necessity for children today, and charter schools cannot only be an "alternative choice" to the local public school, but a truly good decision that results in a well-educated, productive and happy student. We should applaud the democracy of "school choice" and respect a parent's right to choose.